Annie Spiers

The film makeup designer Annie Spiers has died aged 54. Annie was born in Derna, Libya, to parents working for the British armed forces. After moving to London in the 1970s, she trained as a makeup assistant and began working at the BBC during the high point of the channel's classic period-drama output. There she met and married her husband, the television director Bob Spiers.

Annie came into her own when her international freelance career took off in the 1980s; for more than 20 years she designed the makeup for film and television productions, including GBH, The Woman in White, Goodbye Mr Chips and Guantanamo.

In several Comic Strip episodes, she redefined the use of prosthetics, and following on from her work on The Yob Annie's work flourished among the canons of renowned directors. From Ken Russell to Jim Henson and Richard Lester, she became known for her inventiveness, usually within the constraints of strict budgets, and managed to literally pull all manner of things out of hats, faces and, in the case of the TV series Bramwell from 1995, stomachs - she made intestinal tissue from meat-stuffed condoms and fake blood.

Bafta and Emmy nominationspunctuated her career, leading to the Emmy award in 2000 for outstanding individual achievement in makeup. In her true selfless manner, and ignoring the individual honour status, she insisted that her entire team attend the ceremony in Los Angeles and collectively accept the award.

It was with the controversial television play The Deal in 2003 that Annie's talents most recently attracted interest. Her ability to turn the principal actors, David Morrissey and Michael Sheen, so convincingly yet subtly into Gordon Brown and Tony Blair was aided by first-hand knowledge of making up Tony Blair as a junior shadow cabinet minister. Her observations and knowledge contributed significantly to the realism of the piece, which was scrutinised by Downing Street and the media for its authenticity. The resulting controversy eventually spread via unknown sources, from breakfast TV to the tabloids, with Annie's name unfairly attached.

The cancer that eventually killed her was in its primary stages at this time, and over the subsequent two years the undiagnosed spread had a devastating effect on both her health and career output.

I will remember Annie as a great, dear friend. The international film industry will remember a quietly resolute and passionate artist of the highest standard. And actors will remember her as the talented, smiling and calming presence who cut through the chaos of the film set. Her charm and support were the glue that kept a working cast at ease and she formed strong friendships with cast members who, on occasion, requested Annie to be their personal makeup artist. She constantly refused the offers, preferring the inclusion of herself and her team in the collaborative process of making memorable world drama of the highest quality.